A hike brings the chance of exposure to deer ticks
which carry Lyme disease. Ticks hide in shady,
moist ground litter and also cling to tall grass, brush,
shrubs, and low tree branches. People and animals acquire
ticks only by direct contact. When hiking, follow these
precautions to prevent exposure:
Wear light-colored clothing so you can more easily
see ticks.
Wear long sleeves buttoned at the wrist and long
pants tucked into socks. Take a hat to protect your
head.
Walk in the center of trails to avoid brushing up
against dense vegetation where ticks hide. Avoid sitting
directly on the ground, use a blanket or towel.
Do a tick check every few hours or more often if
in heavily infested areas. Visually check clothing
and exposed skin. At the end of the day, do a final,
full-body tick check.
Use an insect repellant containing DEET. Lightly
spray clothing, especially children's, and avoid direct
contact with skin.
Remove ticks as soon as you detect them. Do not
touch them directly, use a tweezers or tissue and
do not crush the insect until it is separated from
the skin and placed in a disposable container.
The Following Guidelines Should Be
Followed During Tick Removal.
1. Avoid handling ticks with uncovered fingers; use tweezers or commercial tools designed for removal. If index finger and thumb must be used, protect them with rubber gloves, plastic or even a paper towel.
2. Place the tips of tweezers or edges of other removal devices around the area where the mouthparts enter the skin.
3. With steady slow motion, pull the tick away from the skin or slide the removal device along the skin (read the directions for each commercial tool). Do not jerk, crush, squeeze or puncture the tick.
4. After removal, place the tick directly into a sealable container. Disinfect the area around the bite site using standard procedures.
5. Keep the tick alive for a month in case symptoms of a tick-borne disease develop. Place it in a labeled (date, patient), sealed bag or vial with a lightly moistened paper towel then store at refrigerator temperature.
Repellents
Clothing
Tick repellents that contain "permethrin" (Permanone,
Permakill) are meant to be sprayed onto
clothing. Spray the clothes before they're put on, and
let them dry first. Do not apply this
chemical directly to the skin.
Skin
Avoid using repeated applications of repellents containing DEET on children. It is safe when used according to directions, but isn't meant for long-term (every day) use and should be kept away from eyes and mouth.
See your doctor if a rash develops where you remove a tick or if you find one a day after you believe you were exposed.
Insect repellents that contain "DEET" are
somewhat effective when applied to the arms, legs,
and around the neck. Do not use any repellent over
wide areas of the body as they can be
absorbed causing toxicity. Also, it is inadvisable to
use a product that contains more than 50%
DEET, and 25% concentrations are preferred. Use
repellents cautiously on small children, as they
are more susceptible to their toxic effects. Be aware
that this repellent evaporates quickly and
must be reapplied frequently.
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Ticks hide in shady,
moist ground litter and also cling to tall grass, brush,
shrubs, and low tree branches. People and animals acquire
ticks only by direct contact. When hiking, follow these
precautions to prevent exposure:
The Following Guidelines Should Be
Followed During Tick Removal.
Avoid using repeated applications of repellents containing DEET on children. It is safe when used according to directions, but isn't meant for long-term (every day) use and should be kept away from eyes and mouth.